Religious clashes in Egypt

CAIRO (AP) - In Egypt, flames have lit up downtown Cairo, wheremassive clashes raged Sunday, pitting Christians angry over arecent church attack against Muslims and Egyptian security forces.At least 24 people are dead and more than 200 injured in the worstsectarian violence since the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak inFebruary. The rioting lasted late into the night, bringing out adeployment of more than 1,000 security forces and armored vehiclesto defend the state television building, where the trouble began. The clashes spread to nearby Tahrir Square, drawing thousands ofpeople to the vast plaza that served as the epicenter of theprotests that ousted Mubarak. On Sunday night, they battled eachother with rocks and firebombs, some tearing up pavement forammunition and others collecting stones in boxes. After midnight, mobs roamed downtown streets, attacking carsthey suspected had Christian passengers. Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 80 millionpeople, blame the country's ruling military council for being toolenient on those behind a spate of anti-Christian attacks sinceMubarak's ouster. The Coptic Christian minority is particularlyworried about the show of force by ultraconservative Islamists.